Backcountry Skincare!
Backcountry Skincare
Why it’s hard
When at home, you have easy and often unlimited access to water, a reasonably comfy bathroom with all the amenities, and often are not pressed for space to the point where every ounce of material matters! When out and about on the trails, water can be a precious resource, a bathroom might be the nearest bush to your tent, and what goes in your pack is scrutinized to the ounce. This can make bringing along your favorite products for skin care very difficult if not impossible. Although, it is true that when it comes to backpacking, typically practicality reigns and if it is choosing between a jar of your favorite moisturizer and an extra dehydrated meal, it’s clear which would take priority! This article will go over three great hygiene tips to prevent or mitigate issues like acne while out and about!
Tip #1: Keep your hands clean!
In order to keep from transferring dirt from your hands to your face, bring along some sanitizer or portable soap, but make sure that whatever you are using to clean your hands is unscented if you are traveling through bear country. Bears are not just attracted to food smells but it can really be anything that differs from the usual smells they recognize in their environment. Bears become curious if they smell something different than normal just like people do, however their sense of smell is much more powerful. If you must use products that have a scent, be sure to store it a bear box or other type of air tight container. Some examples of these are in the “Useful Links” section at the end of this article!
Keeping your hands clean to avoid transferring dirt and bacteria to your face is definitely important, however it is vital to keep your hands clean after using the restroom and before preparing food as well! Being in the backcountry shouldn’t mean you have to abandon normal hygiene practices, they are simply modified to be feasible in more rugged environments. Lastly, be sure that the soap you decide to bring along is biodegradable and does not contain anything that will remain in the soil. See our article “How to Stay Clean Outdoors-Part 1” that goes over how to tell if a product is biodegradable or not.
Tip#2: Use products that do not require excess water.
Water is a precious resource we take for granted, but that quickly changes when you are a few day’s hike away from the nearest grocery store or plumbing in general. If you are lucky enough to be on a trail nearby a water source then washing up at the end of each day is simple enough, however for many that venture into the backcountry this may not be the case. Many backpackers find themselves having to pack-in their water with them. For this reason, conserving water for essential things such as cooking and cleaning up dishes afterwards is vital.
Bringing moist wipes to clean the dirt and sweat off your face can be a great work around but always remember to pack your trash out with you! Biodegradable face wipes are available! Bringing along some high quality unscented biodegradable soap is another option as good quality soaps with great lather won’t need much water to get the job done! You can get a soap that has exfoliant in it as well which will help clear out pores and keep your skin feeling refreshed! Especially after applying sunscreen or bug repellent which can clog pores and make your skin feel icky overall.
Tip #3: Avoid over-exfoliation
Exfoliation is important to keep your skin clear of dirt although over-exfoliation can make your skin more sensitive to the sun and elements. Be sure to exfoliate gently with a biodegradable product in the evening and moisturize with something gentle and that won’t clog your pores! Bringing along a small bottle of your favorite serum is a great idea as using a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, just make sure to store this in a safe way and also be sure that the serum doesn’t have a floral or fruit scent as to avoid attracting bears and if it does have any kind of sweet scent, be sure to store it inside a bear box!
Happy Trails!
The Phantosmia Scents family
Useful Links:
Bear Boxes:
- Large Bear Box:
https://www.rei.com/product/768902/bearvault-bv500-journey-bear-canister
- Medium Bear Box:
https://www.rei.com/product/218763/bearvault-bv475-trek-bear-canister
- Small Bear Box:
https://www.rei.com/product/218762/bearvault-bv425-sprint-bear-canister
Blog Article, “How to Stay Clean Outdoors” which discusses how to discern biodegradable products:
https://phantosmiascents.com/blogs/news/how-to-stay-clean-outdoors-part-1